Hunt #18: Mastering Your Job Search with LinkedIn

Pro tips to find your perfect-fit company, build connections, and land your next role

Author

The Quota Hunter
October 15, 2024

Good morning hunters!

Today's newsletter covers a step-by-step guide on how to use LinkedIn during your job search, some recently captured HOT jobs I think are interesting, and words of wisdom to consider as you think about your sales career & journey.

Enjoy!

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Main Event

If you’re ready to find your next sales role, LinkedIn can be a game-changer! But it helps to be strategic. Here’s how you can pinpoint companies that are the best fit, build meaningful relationships, and get your foot in the door.

Step 1: Identify Great-Fit Companies

To increase your chances of landing the right sales role, focus on companies that align with your experience and interests. Companies prioritize hiring candidates with relevant experience because it decreases ramp-up time and increases the likelihood of success.

Here’s how to find companies where you’ll shine:

  • Industry expertise: Target companies in industries you’ve sold into. You’ll bring immediate value, which hiring managers love.

  • Identify familiar target personas: If you’re skilled at selling to CFOs, for instance, seek out companies that focus on similar buyers.

  • Check for growth indicators: Look for companies with recent funding or product launches—they’re likely hiring and value relevant experience to maintain (or increase) their growth trajectory.

Need help finding potential target companies? Try these tips:

  • Google image search: Try searches like “2024 cybersecurity startup ecosystem overview” or “2024 healthcare tech landscape.” These visuals often showcase top players and emerging startups.

  • LinkedIn’s advanced search: Use their filters to find companies by industry. It’s quick and effective!

  • Explore Crunchbase: Crunchbase lets you search by industry, funding stage, and recent news, so you can find high-growth companies and get alerts on new milestones.

  • Browse industry news websites and databases: Check sites like TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and CB Insights for articles about “Top Startups to Watch” or “Best Companies in [Industry].”

  • Set Google alerts: Set alerts for searches like “new cybersecurity companies” or “top healthcare startups 2024” to receive regular updates on new content featuring these keywords, which can help you identify fresh targets as they emerge.

  • Utilize Industry-Specific Directories: For example, AngelList, Built In and Clutch.

Step 2: Follow Company Pages

After you’ve identified your top companies, follow their LinkedIn pages. This keeps you in the loop on news, job openings, and company updates. You’ll also gain insights into their culture, which will help you when you’re ready to reach out.

Step 3: Connect with Leaders

Dig a little deeper by finding sales leaders at these companies—think VPs, Directors, and Managers—and follow them on LinkedIn (not connect with them). And for early-stage startups (like pre-seed and seed), follow their Founders & CEO’s. Leaders often post about company goals, industry trends, and their teams' priorities/successes. Following their content gives you a glimpse into the company’s approach and helps you learn what these leaders value in a candidate which you can showcase over time.

Step 4: Engage with Their Posts

Following is just the beginning; engagement is where connections are made! Like, comment, and share posts from these sales leaders, and add value by sharing your own experiences or asking thoughtful questions. For example:

  • If they post about industry challenges, comment with your perspective or a solution you’ve implemented in a similar role.

  • If they post about their successes/growth, celebrate them

This type of engagement will help you build name recognition and showcase your expertise, making you stand out before you even send a message.

Note: Commenting (vs just liking) is critical. If you comment enough, they will start to recognize your name (I certainly do with people who regularly comment on my posts!)

Step 5: Check for shared first connections

Here’s a tip that can be incredibly powerful: see if you have any mutual connections with the sales leaders you’re targeting. LinkedIn will show you if you share any first-degree connections, which can give you a valuable edge. If the person knows both of you well, a personal introduction can make a huge difference.

When reaching out to your shared connection, approach it softly. You could say something like, “I noticed you’re connected with [Sales Leader’s Name] at [Company]. I’m really interested in learning more about them and the company. If you’re open to making an intro, I’d appreciate it—but no pressure if not!”

This approach shows respect for their network while increasing your chances of a warm introduction.

Note: Remember to GIVE as much as you take. Avoid repeatedly asking the same person for intros. Be thoughtful with your requests, and focus on connections who have actually worked with the sales leader—those intros will be more meaningful. And when you see posts from the connections you’ve asked for intros, make sure to engage! A little support goes a long way in building strong, reciprocal relationships.

Step 6: Send a DM and Ask to Chat

Once you’ve been engaging for a few weeks, it’s time to reach out. Send a connection request or DM, reference something they’ve posted, and mention your interest in their company.

Here’s a potential connection request:

Hi [Sales Leader’s Name],

Been following [company] & your posts for a few weeks and would love to connect.

And if you happen to have an opening for [xyz job] in the future, would appreciate an opportunity to meet you to see if I could be a great fit.

Cheers,

[Your name]

Here’s a potential DM:

Hi [Sales Leader’s Name],

I’ve really enjoyed following your posts & [company name] appears to have an incredibly bright future ahead.

I’ve been selling in [industry name] for the last 5 years and have exceeded my goals the last 4 quarters. I’m looking to make the next step in my carer and [company name] seems like a place I could work hard and grow my career.

If you’re open to a quick chat, I’d love to learn more about your experience at [company], but regardless, I’ll keep supporting your posts!

Cheers,

[Your name]

Conclusion

When it comes to landing a role at your top-choice companies, patience is key. By following, engaging, and building rapport over a few weeks, you’re creating name recognition that will make your eventual message stand out. Play it cool—focus on genuine engagement first. By the time you reach out, you’ll likely already be on their radar, setting the stage for a much warmer connection and better job opportunities!

Recently captured HOT jobs

Here are 12 new roles on Quota Hunters I find particularly interesting:

Words of wisdom

Look for places that value sales as a strategic asset.

Joining a company that sees sales as central to its success means you’ll have a voice, influence, and likely more resources. You’ll be in a place where your work is recognized, which can make a big difference in your long-term growth and job satisfaction.

That’s all for this week. Feel free to reply with any questions or feedback. Happy hunting!

Jay Green “The Quota Hunter”